I mean, I really have to apologize to all the people that have been hurt. For them to hear that I -- that I'm a possible racist is so painful to me, because I'm not a racist, and I have never been a racist. It's not me.

... STERLING: I didn't mean it. I said a few words. I don't know why the girl had me say those things.

COOPER: You're saying you were set up.

STERLING: Well, yes. I was baited. ...

COOPER: Do you know how the tape got released?

STERLING: No.

COOPER: Do you think she did it?

STERLING: It's -- I don't know.

I mean, I -- an 80-year-old man is kind of foolish. And I'm kind of foolish. I thought she liked me and really cared for me. I guess being 50 years, 51 years over -- older than her, I was deluding myself. ...

And I just wish I could ask her why and if she was just setting me up. I think that people say she was taping me for two years. So, maybe I was just fooling myself thinking for two years that she cared for me. She certainly acted like it.

COOPER: In Sterling's analysis, he's not a racist; he was just jealous because the woman he was interested in was bringing other guys to the games.

That also seemed to be his defense in a phone call that was released to Radar Online last week.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

STERLING: What the hell? I'm talking to a girl. The girl is black. I like her. I'm jealous that she's with other black guys. I want her.

So, what the hell? Can I tell her in private, you know, I don't want you to be with anybody else?

(END AUDIO CLIP)

COOPER: I wanted to hear more from Sterling about this idea that it was jealousy, not racism, that motivated him.

Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Here's what I don't understand.

I get you were saying you were jealous, you didn't want her being seen with other guys. You didn't want her being --

STERLING: Not -- not seen.

COOPER: You didn't want her being photographed, photographed with other guys. You thought she was kind of throwing it in your face.

That seems to be what you're saying.

STERLING: Did you ever like a girl or were you ever jealous of her a little bit if she was with other guys? It isn't that I didn't want her to be photographed or I didn't want her -- I don't know where photographs --

(CROSSTALK)

COOPER: But you were jealous?

STERLING: -- go into it.

I admit I was jealous. And it was stupid.

COOPER: The thing is, though, what you were saying wasn't, I don't want you to be seen with other guys. You were saying, I don't want you seen with black guys.

V. Stiviano's Instagram picturew/ Dodger slugger Matt Kemp

STERLING: Because she used the word black guys. "I'm bringing some gorgeous black guys."

COOPER: But, in the tape, you're the one who bring -- brings up -- you say that friends of yours are calling you up, saying -- telling her she's bringing black guys to the games. You say -- and let me just read you, so you can respond.

(CROSSTALK)

STERLING: But it's all --

(CROSSTALK)

STERLING: It's convoluted.

COOPER: She says, "Then why are you taking" -- you say, "Why are you taking pictures with minorities? Why?"

Later on, you say: "It bothers me a lot you want to broadcast you're associating with black people. Do you have to?"

And she says, "You associate with black people."

He says: "I'm not you. You're not me. You're supposed to be a delicate white or delicate Latino girl."

The question then is, why does being seen with a black guy not make her a delicate white or delicate Latino girl?

STERLING: I can't explain some of the stupid, foolish, uneducated words that I uttered. I don't know.

You know, you start. You get upset and you say things.

COOPER: One other thing you said, you said: "I'm just saying, in your lousy 'expletive' Instagrams, you don't have to have yourself walking with black people. You don't have to. If you want to, do it."

If you --

STERLING: It doesn't make sense. I don't care. I didn't care.

COOPER: Would it have been OK with you if she was bringing a white person to a game?

(CROSSTALK)

STERLING: She brought -- she had four seats. She brought a lot of people. ...

... COOPER: Well, Elgin Baylor made a claim that you had a plantation mentality.

STERLING: Well --

COOPER: And then, now, in this thing, you're saying you feed these guys who --

STERLING: I think you have more of a plantation mentality than I do.

You know what? And I think you're more of a racist than I am.

COOPER: How so?

STERLING: Because I'm not a racist, and I have never been a racist, and I will never be a racist.

I don't know what that means to have a mentality. You're asking me about questions. What do you mean a mentality?

(CROSSTALK)

COOPER: Well, to have a plantation mentality is to feel like you own these guys, they are working for you.

STERLING: Well, do I -- do I own them?

COOPER: I don't know.

STERLING: My players earn $100 million a year. Do I own them?

COOPER: But, in this tape, you're saying --

STERLING: Some of them own $50 million a year.

COOPER: In this tape, you're saying: "I support them. I give them food and clothes and cars and houses."

(CROSSTALK)

STERLING: Well, I think I create opportunities for them, so they can make $100 million. ...

COOPER: In our interview, Sterling bashed Magic Johnson again. I'm not -- and I'm sure that what he said will be deeply offensive to many people.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Magic Johnson, you know, has made a public comment. What -- do you have something to say to him?

D. STERLING: What could I say to him? He -- it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter.

I'm hurt, but it doesn't matter.

COOPER: You're hurt that he -- that he said -- that he spoke out publicly?

D. STERLING: I'm hurt that he called me up and he said: "Don't do anything. Wait until you hear from me."

Then somebody called me later and said, he doesn't want to be involved. And then he released the tape that I sent to him, that I talked to him in confidence.

I -- I don't -- I didn't give any interviews. You are my interview. I'm deciding if I like you.

No, but I -- here is a man who is -- I don't know if I say this. He acts so holy. I mean, he made love to every girl in every city in America. And he had AIDS.

And when he had those AIDS, I went to my synagogue and I prayed for him. I hoped he could live and be well.

I didn't criticize him. I could have. Is he an example for children? You know, because he has money, he's able to treat himself.

... But he lulled me into waiting a week. Do you know what I mean? He says, "Don't do anything."

COOPER: He told you -- you're saying he told you not to say anything?

D. STERLING: Yes: "Don't do anything. I know the girl. Don't do anything. I will help you."

I'm waiting and I'm waiting and I'm waiting.

COOPER: What you're saying is, Magic Johnson called you up, or you called him up?

D. STERLING: I don't know his phone number.

COOPER: He called you up when the tape broke?

D. STERLING: Yes. I don't call anybody.

COOPER: He called you up?

D. STERLING: I'm loyal to you.

COOPER: He called you up when the tape came out and he told you not to say anything?

D. STERLING: Yes.

COOPER: Why did he say, don't say anything?

D. STERLING: He just said: "Wait. Be patient. I will help you. We will -- we will work it out."

COOPER: Why do you think he said that?

D. STERLING: I think he wanted me just to do nothing, so he could buy the team.

He thought maybe the whole thing would be resolved in two weeks.

What has he done? Can you tell me? Big Magic Johnson, what has he done?

COOPER: Well, he has -- he's a businessperson. He...

D. STERLING: He's got AIDS. Did he do any business? I would like -- did he help anybody in South L.A.?

COOPER: Well, I think he has HIV. He doesn't actually have full-blown AIDS, but...

D. STERLING: Well, what kind of a guy goes to every city, he has sex with every girl, then he catches HIV and -- is that someone we want to respect and tell our kids about? I think he should be ashamed of himself. I think he should go into the background.

But what does he do for the black people? Doesn't do anything.

You call up and say -- well...

(CROSSTALK)

COOPER: He's opened a lot of businesses in inner-city neighborhoods.

D. STERLING: The Jewish people -- the Jewish people have a company, and it's for people who want to borrow money and no interest. They want to give them a fish pole -- a fishing pole. We want to help people. If they don't have money, we will loan to it you. You don't have interest. One day, you will pay us back.

COOPER: So...

D. STERLING: I'm just telling you, he does nothing. It's all talk.

COOPER: So, you're saying that African-Americans don't contribute to their -- to African-American communities as much as Jewish people do?

D. STERLING: There's no African-American -- never mind. I'm sorry.

You know, I -- they all want to play golf with me. They -- everybody wants to be with me.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: By the way Magic Johnson has a foundation that's been around 20 years that has raised millions of dollars for HIV/AIDS awareness and other things that we will tell you about -- a little bit more about later on this hour.

And, as you just saw, Sterling stopped himself before he finished that thought about African-Americans.

Earlier in the interview, though, he made it clear what he thinks on the subject of charitable works, his own and those of African-Americans. And like the part you just heard, it started when I asked him about his relationship with Magic Johnson.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: You have talked to him?

D. STERLING: Twice, and then -- yes. He's...

COOPER: Did you apologize to him?

D. STERLING: He knew the girl, he said. He knew the girl well. He...

COOPER: Did you apologize to him, or...

D. STERLING: Well, if I said anything wrong, I'm sorry.

He's a good person, and he -- what am I going to say? Has he done everything he can do to help minorities? I don't think so.

But I will say it. I will say it. You know, he's great. But I just don't think he is a good example for the children of Los Angeles, that he would go and do what he did and then get AIDS. I mean, come on.

Maybe he doesn't think I could be a good owner. I remember when he came from Detroit. He came to my house. You know, he was a great player, great player. But what -- I would like to know exactly what he's -- what does he do? He works with the Dodgers.

COOPER: Well, he's got a business. He owns movie theaters.

D. STERLING: Do you know what I do? I spend millions on giving away and helping minorities.

Does he do that? That's one problem I have. Jews, when they get successful, they will help their people. And some of the African-Americans -- maybe I will get in trouble again -- they don't want to help anybody.

What has Magic Johnson really done for children's hospital, which kids are lying in the hallways? ...

COOPER: Did you say to somebody that you should have paid V. Stiviano off?

D. STERLING: No.

COOPER: Did she ask you for money? Do you believe she was trying to extort money from you in any way?

D. STERLING: You know, forgive me for saying this, but she -- she is a good person. She is a beautiful person.

There's 15 of her, 15 children, 15 Hispanic kids, sisters and brothers, and she supports them all. Perhaps she's made some mistakes. I thought she cared for me. I was stupid.

How could a girl care for a man 51 years older? She didn't, or she wouldn't have released those tapes. But she's not a bad person. She has to survive. She -- she's a street person. But, inside, she's a good person. ...

I made such a mistake. I thought that woman really cared for me. But thank God this has all come to the light, because it could have been worse, and she could have -- I don't know what she wants. I don't know how it happened.

COOPER: She told Barbara Walters that there's other tapes, there's other recordings out there.

D. STERLING: They say there are 100.

COOPER: Do you believe there are other things you have said which -- which you might regret?

D. STERLING: I don't know what she baited me to say.

COOPER: Do you have the sense that she was wanting money from you, more money than you have already given her?

D. STERLING: I used to think I understood women. I don't think I do anymore. I don't know.

I don't know why she released it. She never said what you just said.

COOPER: She never directly asked for money? ...

D. STERLING: No.

You know, if I can really be honest, this girl, a hundred men could look at her and perhaps they wouldn't even think she's pretty. But she was something special.

And the point that I'm making is, she was a woman who really never asked for anything. She had a way of walking by a Neiman Marcus and looking in the window and saying, "Sweetie, do you think that that dress is beautiful?" And if you're a man, you would not want to go buy the dress?

COOPER: You gave her multiple cars, an apartment. You were very generous to her.

D. STERLING: I was generous. I wouldn't cover that with you.

But some women who are -- she was so nice and so sweet for the two years. I just -- I just couldn't believe she was so sweet and so nice. And she never really asked for -- she tried to help her family, the 15 people. What a job. But...

COOPER: It sounds like you're still sympathetic toward her.

D. STERLING: I just would like to know why she did it. It's like a woman stabbing you in the chest or shooting you.

19 comments:

Basically confirms your analysis of Sterling as a deluded and set-up old man, pathetically clutching onto some strange woman for comfort, pretending to himself that she cares about/loves him. Sad. But not racist.

Johnson likely didn't delay Sterling in hopes of buying the team, but of ensuring that he and Team Racism dominated all the media cycles, w/o counter from Sterling. The usual monomedia.

He admits he is foolish, and that makes me emphathize, another geezer who got golddiggered. But he doesnt grok that it's not the age difference that doomed him, it's putting his psycho-spiritual eggs into the basket of some female he doesn't even really know, then figuring he can just buy his way into her 'love'.

This guy is eighty years old and a zillionaire, some kinda cunning businesscrafter, but when it comes to females, he's just another babe in the woods. Yikes dood get some religion.

Of course, posterity is on his mind. Everyone can relate to this. But he wants to remembered as buffoon who desperately worked to re-ingratiate himself with the negroes who threw him under the bus. Dementia?

Who or what is this Stiviano person really? She's got a minor criminal record as a petty thief and has a DUI. How did she pay for her plastic surgeries while still in her teens? Through prostitution? What did she think she was doing by taping Sterling for all those hours?Quotes of hers, carried by the DMail, make her sound very strange and downright coo-coo. She's adopted two special needs black children. Are there any criteria for becoming an adoptive parent or can anyone just walk in and take home some children? This low rent grifter lucks out and latches onto a weak minded billionaire who gives her a home and luxury cars, things she could never otherwise afford, then turns around and bites the hand that's been feeding her. Without him she'd be working at some escort service and eventually end up on the welfare rolls. Gratitude, what's that?

Brilliant strategy. He isn't trying to change anyone's mind. He is trying to give plausible deniability to the NFL owners to let him keep the team.

But if he is going to play "weak-willed elderly man" he cannot simultaneously wield a stick and make threats.

So that is where his wife comes in. SHE does the threatening and he is just a chump.

It was a great move waiting for the Narrative to firm up and seeing where each of the players was aligned before making any statements. This permitted the Sterlings to plan a strategy and now roll it out carefully.

I expect he may remain banned. But in six months no one is going to care if he piddles around with the Clippers or not: the one-minute hate will be done.

I don't understand why an eighty year old billionaire can't just tell everyone to fuck off and leave him alone. In other words, act in a dignified manner.

Yeah, I don't get that either. What's the point of having a billion dollars if you're going to grovel like this? Heck, the poor 80-year-old men I've known wouldn't suck up like this; they'd tell the newshounds to get the hell off their lawn, possibly while holding a shotgun.

Are there any criteria for becoming an adoptive parent or can anyone just walk in and take home some children?

This is something that seems like it should be a big story (not about her, but in general), but I haven't seen anyone talk about it. It wasn't that long ago that adoptive parents had to show that they could provide a stable two-parent home, enough wealth that the kid wouldn't want for much, a list of references, etc. Now it seems like anyone can adopt, as long as he's willing to take special needs kids.

My first, completely unsubstantiated guess is that they had to drop a lot of the restrictions to allow homosexuals to adopt. But it'd be interesting to see someone research it and really find out.

I don't understand why an eighty year old billionaire can't just tell everyone to fuck off and leave him alone. In other words, act in a dignified manner.

Yeah, I don't get that either. What's the point of having a billion dollars if you're going to grovel like this? Heck, the poor 80-year-old men I've known wouldn't suck up like this; they'd tell the newshounds to get the hell off their lawn, possibly while holding a shotgun.

It's all about social status seeking, not money. Even an 80 year old billionaire can aspire to higher social status.

Donald makes at least one good point - why are people looking up to Earvin Johnson? What has this semi-literate ever done in his life besides successfully bounce a basketball? And get HIV I suppose. A grown man who goes around calling himself Magic? Ridiculous.

Don't think it primarily was social status that motivated sterling in this, but primal neediness, emotional and psychological, projected onto the nearest female that seemed to offer comfort. Stiviano's borderline skankiness makes his bond all the more pitiful.

Money has nothing to do with it. Many modern men cannot function without the presence and attentions of a female or females on a daily basis. This is especially common concerning leftie males. That is not healthy. Guess there was a reason most aboriginal people separated boys from females for awhile.

According to American Values, here's Tycoon Sterling, who rose to the pinnacle of "making it" and yet, the shallowness of U.S. masculinity is clear in this travesty. I dunno whose version of American Male Success is worse, his or Earvin Johnson's.

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